A title given by Pope Leo X. to Henry VIII. of England, in 1521, for a Latin treatise On the Seven Sacraments. Many previous kings, and even subjects, had been termed defenders of the Catholic faith, defenders of the Church, and so on, but no one had borne it as a title. The sovereign of Spain is entitled Catholic, and of France Most Christian.

God bless the king! I mean the faiths defender!

God blessno harm in blessing the Pretender.

But who Pretender is, or who is king

God bless us all! thats quite another thing.

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John Byron: Shorthand Writer.

Richard II., in a writ to the sheriffs, uses these words: Ecclesia cujus nos defensor sumus, and Henry VII., in the Black Book, is called Defender of the Faith; but the pope gave the title to Henry VIII., and from that time to this it has been perpetuated. (See GRACELESS FLORIN.)